Neillsville City Council Approves Writing Off Delinquent Charges on Property, Opting Out of a Settlement, and More

Friday, December 1st, 2023 -- 10:01 AM

The Neillsville City Council approved to write off some special charges on a property in the City at their meeting on Tuesday.

The Council approved the recommendation that the former Scott H. Davis property, 305 E. Fifth Street, delinquent special charges in the amount of $13,573.75 be written off.

The Council also approved the recommendation to opt out of both the 3M PFAS Settlement and DuPont PFAS Settlement. City Clerk Rex Roehl then presented a letter from Bauernfeind Technologies giving the City notice that they will no longer be offering managed IT network services effective July, 1, 2024.

They provide both the City Hall and Police Department services. They have provided a list of five references of providers who provide services for the City’s review (The Dirks Group, 3 RT Networks, Priority Business, WIN Technology and Norfinity/PC Doctor).

Council Member Julie Counsell stated the City’s attorneys at Weld Riley have the Dirks Group. They need someone more than a one-man shop. Mayor Dewey Poeschel stated that he, Chief of Police Jim Mankowski and Assistant IT Clerk Barb Boyer will be looking into this and come back with a recommendation, so the Council tabled the item for the time being.

City Clerk Roehl presented a letter from Statewide Services, Inc., administrator for the League of Wisconsin Mutual Insurance Company, which provides the City’s insurance coverage. They have denied Karen Kennedy’s vehicle damage claim from a fallen tree limb on July 8th, 2023. Kennedy has submitted a formal notice of claim directly with the City for repair.

Chief of Police Mankowski then stated that an individual filed a Self-Reporting Incident Report on August 15, 2022 over a month after the alleged incident, which makes it impossible to investigate. The Council voted to disallow the claim. Council Member Dan Clough stated that the City’s official tree lighting with Santa Claus coming to town is Friday, December 1, 2023 beginning at 5:30 P.M.

The Council then heard the various committee reports from the past couple weeks. Council Member Bill Neville reported on the November 14, 2023 meeting of the Library Board regarding:

• Librarians’ reports;
• Discussion on rotten tree removal;
• Discussion on exterior building painting;
• Discussion on and approval to replace interior lights with LED at a cost not to exceed $5,300;
• WLA Conference report;
• Storybook Trail arch has been installed in Schuster Park;
• Report on the Clark County Board increasing the County Library Aid reimbursement to 85%;
• Payment of bills;
• And update on donation and carryover funds.

Council Member Barb Petkovsek reported on the November 20, 2023 meeting of the Beautification Committee regarding:

• Discussion on and approval of flower choices for 2024;
• Discussion on and approval of adding Military banners on the northside;
• Discussion on Fall 2023 decoration feedback and a card complimenting the City.

City Clerk Roehl reported on the November 28, 2023 meeting of the Illegal Tax Committee regarding discussion on, and recommendation, that:

• The former Scott H. Davis property, 305 E. Fifth Street, delinquent special charges in the amount of $13,573.75 be written off.

Council Member Clough reported on the November 28th meeting of the Commission on Public Works/Utilities, regarding:

• Current activities;
• Discussion on and recommendation to opt out of both the 3M PFAS Settlement and DuPont PFAS Settlement;
• And payment of bills.

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